The new Chevrolet Volt plugin hybrid car is today’s topic. It follows up on an electric vehicle story from last week, and it’s going to make its debut very soon at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show, happening next January.

This much-anticipated new Chevrolet Volt will be completely redesigned in nearly every way. While the theme is the same – using battery power for day-to-day driving – the methodology will be greatly improved.

About the New Chevrolet Volt

For starters, it will get a complete makeover both inside and outside. Next, improvements to the battery are being implemented. Finally GM is focusing its aim on reducing the price of the Volt in an effort to make it a more mainstream car.

As of right now, there aren’t a whole lot of specifics on the new Chevrolet Volt, but here’s what we do know: current-model Volt sales are down 8.7% for 2014’s first seven months, with sales at 10,635. This is much lower than expectations for the car that was the first mainstream product to marry a gas engine with a big lithium-ion battery pack and electric motor.

Additionally, the current Volt is, indeed, a bit pricey at just over $40,000 (though there is a federal $7,500 tax credit for those who purchase a new Volt). That’s a little more than twice as much as the gas-powered Chevrolet Cruze, a similar-sized model by the same company!

While the ability to go 35 miles in battery-only mode is a wonderful thing, the current Volt has been chastised for its lack of power. When it takes almost 10 seconds to accelerate from 0-60, the criticism is understandable.

General Motors and its battery maker LG Chem of South Korea have been experimenting with a new formula in the new lithium-ion battery. Their hope is to get the new Chevrolet Volt up to about 50 miles in battery-only mode. This alone would make it a far more appealing car to the general public looking to keep their fuel expenses down.